Digital Commons Network^™

Culturally Appropriate Nursing Care For International Patients, Kate Larson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Cultural competence is a necessary skill for nurses. It requires ongoing learning for continuous improvement in the healthcare setting. Nurses who are knowledgeable in providing culturally appropriate nursing care are able to meet patients' needs by building trust and minimizing cultural pain. Providing nursing care with nurses who have advanced nursing degrees and knowledge of culture and international patient care is an effective model for the ambulatory setting. Trans-global travel for healthcare is increasing therefore a nursing model designed to meet the culture care needs of international patient care is required. This nursing model describes culturally appropriate nursing care in …

Food Security In The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation: A Nursing Educational Module, Beth E. Grund

Theses and Graduate Projects

Assurance of food security has been a continuing goal of world nations for more than 60 years. The educational module that is the focus of this project is designed to increase the awareness of baccalaureate and post-graduate nurses about the health disparity of low food security as a social justice issue. International policy to detail the development of the concept of food security as a human right is examined and then contrasted with current national policy. Additional topics discussed are connections between low food security on health as well as a deficit in nurse knowledge. The educational module focuses on …

Staff Retention In Small Non-Profit Organizations, Michelle A. Redding

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study is an exploratory analysis of employee perceptions affecting staff recruitment, staff retention and job satisfaction in the small, human service non-profit organization. The study uses a human resource framework to address staff retention and provides conceptual guidance for advancing understanding about staff retention in the non-profit human services sector. The statistical findings are, however, inconclusive without further rigorous examination. A three category typology based on job recruitment factors, job retention factors, and job satisfaction is initially presented to define the strategies. Select dimensions of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors are explored in the recruitment stage of employee decision-making …

Partnering Associate Degree Nursing Students And Community Health Worker Students In A Collaborative, Culturally Focused, Interprofessional Learning Experience, Jane E. Johnson

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide nursing students in the final semester of their associate degree nursing program and community health worker students with a culturally focused, interactive, collaborative, interprofessional learning experience. Health care reform addresses health disparities in an increasingly diverse population with complex chronic health needs. The needs of this diverse population require health professionals to function as members of interprofessional teams providing culturally competent care. Published professional literature supports interprofessional education for students entering the health care field to prepare them to practice as members of interprofessional teams. Government studies and professional accrediting bodies overseeing …

Advancing A Culture Of Safety Through The Creation Of A Unit-Based Safety Team, Lynda K. Carr

Theses and Graduate Projects

Hospitals are challenged to create a strong culture of safety within their organization to eliminate harm to patients. This paper describes a project to advance a culture of safety on a cardiovascular acute care unit at an urban hospital through the creation of a unit-based safety team. Based on the premise that patient safety is a local phenomenon, the rationale for the project is to aim interventions at the unit level where they will have the greatest impact. Four key steps in creating an effective unit-based safety team are highlighted: team member selection, team development, enacting interventions, and evaluating interventions …

Frequent Users Of The Emergency Department: Guiding Patients To Comprehensive And Coordinated Care, Anne L. Draeger

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project is to implement a rural community-based collaborative care network to assist high frequency emergency department users navigate a comprehensive system to access a full range of health care services and decrease reliance on the emergency department. Patients who frequent the emergency department are less apt to receive coordinated treatment of pain and other chronic disease which leads to suboptimal care focusing on symptoms rather than disease management. Nurses who practice in the emergency department identify the pattern of frequent use and lack of care coordination but struggle to provide a connection to preventative services and …

Strict Isolation Compliance: A Quality Improvement Initiative Implementation Process, Debra Apenhorst

Theses and Graduate Projects

This is a retrospective description and evaluation of an implementation process for a quality improvement initiative. The intent of the quality improvement initiative was to improve compliance with isolation as a means of reducing healthcare associated infections. The project evaluates the effectiveness of the implementation strategies through the lens of the Health Belief Modal and Watson's theoretical framework. This evaluation considers the health beliefs of healthcare workers and the impact on behavior and implications of nurse as vigilant guardian, protecting the patients by decreasing the risk of acquiring an infection while receiving medical care. Integral to Watson's theory is the …

Culturally Competent: The Core Competency Of A Successful Small Business Owner/Manager, Shikita S. T Snelson

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper presents results of a study that explored perceptions of salon owners who have become successful due largely to their knowledge and level of cultural competency. After review of the literature, an explanation of the study's design and analysis of its results are discussed. The following themes emerged from interviews with three salon managers: Education, location, cultural experiences, diversity training, staff diversity, client satisfaction, and client retention. The paper concludes with implications for business leadership and further research.

Women And Happiness: A Personal Growth Retreat, Laura Marquette

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research examined the impact of using a servant-leader approach to facilitate a happiness retreat for women. Several self-report assessments were used in an attempt to measure three different aspects of the women’s lives. This research sampled four women, ranging in age from 29 to 30, that are all associates of the chief investigator, interested in attending a retreat. The full-day retreat took place during an annually scheduled trip to Dallas, Texas. The evidence to support the original hypothesis that the designed retreat will have a measurable impact on the levels of happiness of those who attended is inconclusive. While …

Closing The Research Gap: Enhancing Cambodian Participation In Clinical Research, Elsa C. Carlson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Obtaining proper sampling of a heterogeneous population remains a concern in research studies. Many studies have examined the low numbers of African-Americans recruited to clinical trials. Other studies have also focused on Latino-Hispanic disparity in research. However, there remains paucity in research involving Asian participation. This project aims to develop a nursing model of cultural immersion in the Cambodian community's culture that will foster deeper understanding, acceptance, and trust. In so doing, a research-friendly milieu of collaboration by the Cambodian community and the research community will be established. Madeleine Leininger's Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality is the theoretical …

Evaluating Cultural Lmmersion Experiences To Teach Community Health Nursing, Martha Laskar-Alemán

Theses and Graduate Projects

Cultural immersion experiences can be a valuable way to teach the concepts of community health nursing in an introductory clinical course. By having an opportunity to experience a cultural context outside of their usual! area of practice and residence, students are able to expand their understanding of another world view while beginning to develop skills in population and community focused practice. The purpose of this project is to describe a method for evaluating cultural immersion experiences and to identify patterns of expanding professional and personal growth that are based on these experiences. Students who chose immersion experiences, were invited to …

A Schweitzer Approach To Higher Education: Utilizing Principles Drawn From The Life Of Albert Schweitzer To Develop A Holistic And Comprehensive Educational Model, John B. Miller

Theses and Graduate Projects

While quite young, Albert Schweitzer was already a well regarded philosopher, a gifted musician, and a groundbreaking theologian when he became a medical doctor and devoted his life to service in equatorial Africa where he received the inspiration for his central ethic of Reverence for Life. A Schweitzer-based higher educational approach draws upon Schweitzer's life example in interweaving elements of academics, arts, spirituality, service, and the direct experience of nature. The academic content is grounded in complexity theory, a post-moderm discipline which expands upon Schweitzer's recognition that, "l am life that wills to live in the midst of life that …

Variables Related To Social Service And Justice Advocacy Activities In Minneapolis Area Synod Congregations Of The Evangelical Lutheran Church In America, Mary Simonson Clark

Theses and Graduate Projects

This thesis reports on the initial phase of research regarding the variables related to social service and justice advocacy activities of congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. An extensive review of literature from a variety of disciplines and resources provides the basis for this study. Theoretical frameworks pertinent to this work include resource mobilization, ecological systems, and social justice theories as well as the contextual framework of Lutheranism's Christian beliefs. In addition to congregations' demographic and belief variables, the literature emphasizes relational community organizing to develop awareness among groups from the dominant culture …

A Study Of Hiv Case Management Services Provided To People With A Triple Diagnosis Of Hiv, Mental Illness, And Chemical Dependency, Ericka Lynn Kimball

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study researched the case management services provided to people with a triple diagnosis of HIV, mental illness, and chemical dependency. Data were gathered to determine what services were being provided and areas for improvement, Information was gathered from HIV case management survey providers and the Minnesota Department of Human Services HIV/AIDS Division. The study found that services were being provided to people with a triple diagnosis. However, case management services need to move from assessment practices to providing referral and follow up services. The social work profession needs to continue to advocate for this unique population while increasing …

College Recruiter Behaviors That Influence International Students' Decision To Attend Augsburg College, Marissa Machado

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study will investigate the role of the admissions counselor in influencing an international student to attend Augsburg College. Previous research has indicated that factors such as a student's knowledge of a host country, perceived quality of education, and scholarship awards are determining factors in the college selection process, but very little research has examined what role the international recruiter plays in this process. The number of academic institutions which international students can choose from are varied and numerous, making the role of the international recruiter key in the recruitment process. This research indicates that the admissions counselor can play …

The War On Drugs Is A War On African American Communities, Saundra Denise Massey

Theses and Graduate Projects

The "war on drugs" and the "get tough" attitudes associated with it have resulted in disproportionate numbers of incarcerated blacks. According to a report by Human Rights Watch, nationally one in every 20 black men over the age of 18 is in a state or federal prison. In contrast, the incarceration rate for white men is one out of every 180 (Human Rights Watch, 2000).

This paper is a policy analysis examining one law that may affect incarceration rates for blacks, the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. Using the analytical model of Segal and Brzuzy, "Social Welfare Policy, Programs, and …

Tribal Workers' Knowledge And Perspectives On The Effectiveness Of The Indian Child Welfare Act, Linda L. Strong

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory study surveyed tribal workers' perspectives on the effectiveness of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The purpose of this study was to gain front line perspectives from the people who work directly with the enforcement of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Do the various tribal workers involved with this study feel knowledgeable, trained, supported and most of all do they feel the Indian Child Welfare Act has been effective? If not, Why? What changes if any need to be made to ensure the effectiveness of the Indian Child Welfare Act? Questionnaires were mailed to tribal workers employed by eleven …

Integrating Technology Into The Chemical Dependency Curriculum At The St. Croix Camp Schools, Cory D. Knudtson

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Amherst H. Wilder St. Croix Camps are located 25 miles east of Hinckley, Minnesota. The camps provide rehabilitative programming for both male and female juveniles referred by either social services or probation. One of the programming pieces consists of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug curriculum. During this project, the integration of technology and chemical dependency curriculum was explored. The computer program Alcohol 101 for Hish School provided students attending the on-site public school a new way of learning and exploring alcohol use and consequences. Along with providing students a new learning opportunity, teachers and other staff learned about the …

Hollman V Cisneros: The Hollman Consent Decree, A Policy Analysis, David C. Broberg

Theses and Graduate Projects

The Hollman Consent Decree was the negotiated settlement in 1995 of a class action lawsuit, Hollman v Cisneros, filed in the fourth district federal judicial court in 1992 by the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis and the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, alleging racial discrimination by the City of Minneapolis and its public housing authority.

Despite the decrees call for the relocation of the public housing residents of the four north-side housing projects to areas of lower race and poverty concentrations, the majority of families relocated to other neighborhoods on the north side …

Social Work Burnout And Supportive Supervision, Kathryn L. Jarl

Theses and Graduate Projects

It is widely agreed that social work has an emotional and stressful load that can lead to social worker burnout. Burnout needs to be clearly defined and the different variables causing stress leading to burnout need to be fully understood in order to implement appropriate preventative strategies. Burnout is defined as the emotional depletion felt from a continuous drain on one's personal reserves. Burnout has three different components: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. The findings suggest that the type of supervision has an impact on social worker burnout. Supervision is divided into its three functions: administrative, educational, …

The Quest For Housing, Leslie Moore

Theses and Graduate Projects

What are the factors that affect the ability of a person with serious and persistent mental illness to maintain stable housing? People with serious and persistent mental illness face many challenges to find and/or maintain stable housing. Interviews were conducted with 12 individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. Structured individual interviews concentrated on each participant's ability to find housing, how the participant found current and past housing (past two years), if he or she was assisted in the process, and identified any difficulties encountered while seeking housing. A second aspect of the study focused on the challenges each individual …

Graying Population Employment: Attraction And Retention Of Future Older Knowledge Workers, Roseann Becker

Theses and Graduate Projects

In the next ten years, the so-called Baby Boomer generation will be entering traditional retirement age and could potentially leave the work force in large numbers. Implications are clear that by 2010, many Boomers will need to be replaced by middle-aged and younger workers. Indications point to a significant projected labor shortage.

Previous research reveals that few CEO's recognize future labor issues as a pending management challenge. The objective of this research was to survey the human resources personnel at some of the best companies to work for and see if they are ramping up for potential labor shortages and …

Evaluation Of A Court-Ordered Divorce Education Program In A Suburban Minnesota County, Solveig Erickson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Minnesota requires divorcing parents to attend education programs that increase their awareness of relevant laws and court processes, the effects of divorce on children and the importance of communication skills in divorce. The purpose of this program evaluation was to explore participants' reactions to the court-ordered divorce education classes in a suburban Minnesota county. A systematic random sample of 70 exit surveys collected in 1999 was selected for the second class, focusing on needs of children in a divorce, in a series of three classes that comprise the program. The survey questions focused on what participants found most helpful, what …

Bullying: What Is It, Who Is Involved And Why Should We Care?, Jeffrey A. Schoeberl

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that bullying has had on 5th at one suburban school. Using a self-administered survey on a population of 55 students (n = 55), approximately 17% of students report being the victim of a bully and nearly 8% report bullying others. Over 7 percent of subjects reported missing a day of school or avoiding other parts of the school for fear of encountering a bully. In addition, victimized students reported substantially more fear in the school environment than non-victimized students. This study suggests that a substantial proportion of students in our …

Child Maltreatment And Resilience, Annette M. Strum

Theses and Graduate Projects

This exploratory, cross-sectional quantitative study was undertaken to examine how County Child Protection Social Workers perceive the concept of child resilience and how social worker self appraisal of use of resilience in interventions was consistent with their rating of resilience of children in their professional career. A self report survey was distributed to County Child Protection Field Social Workers. Univariate analysis was done and descriptive statistics were used to summarize characteristics of the data. Due to low response rate and design of the survey, findings could not be generalized. Future research may use this information to further explore "best practices" …

A Historical And Policy Analysis Of The Family Medical Leave Act Of 1993 (P.L. 103-3), James C. Towns

Theses and Graduate Projects

This historical and policy analysis as a qualitative method of research will examine the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-3), which was passed by Congress and signed into law. This law requires that private employers with 50 or more employees provide for its eligible employees the benefit of unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks. This research and its findings will attempt to provide the social work profession with an understanding of the historical process of this law and those it was intended to benefit.

Systemic Barriers That Prevent Mental Health Services From Being Accessed By The Deaf Population, Jen Ruther-Uhrich

Theses and Graduate Projects

Mental health services are essential and need to be equally accessible and non-discriminatory to all individuals within our society. Traditionally, the Deaf community has encountered many hindrances when attempting to access mental health seruices. This study examines the systemic barriers that prevent Deaf individuals from obtaining mental health services in the Twin Cities Metro and regional area. Questionnaires were sent out to 100 individuals that serve Deaf adults with mental illness within the Twin Cities Metro Area. The results from the 48 seruice providers' questionnaires responses show specific qualitative barriers; Community Service Agencies, Cultural Competency, Deaf lndividuals with Additional Needs, …

An Evaluation Of The Ispcan Inter-Sectoral Training: Child Abuse Protocols In South Africa, Amy Maheswaran

Theses and Graduate Projects

This research studies how child abuse has become so pervasive in South Africa and evaluates a project that provides training for professionals to learn the necessary skills to build an effective social welfare system, potentially create national procedures for serving abused children and potentially change child abuse laws. Efforts have been made to build awareness on the rights of children in South Africa. Children, before and after the apartheid regime, have been affected by the breakdown of families and oppressive laws in a patriarchal society. Child abuse services and policies have attempted to address protecting children from abuse. Despite efforts …

Examining Perceptions About Restorative Justice Among Correctional Managers And Leaders, Sigrun M. Klausen

Theses and Graduate Projects

There has been an increasing dissatisfaction with the current criminal justice system, and restorative justice with its ancient roots, has made its way into criminal justice in the past 20 years as a different way of thinking about crime. The Minnesota Department of Corrections established a Restorative Justice unit in 1994 as the first state in the nation. To adapt restorative justice in the prison system, a change in organizational culture is required, and it is important that managers and leaders understand and accept the principles. A questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions was sent to managers and leaders in …

Towards An Understanding Of Church Social Work Practice, Luann K. Hanson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Four social workers, employed by Lutheran churches in the Twin Cities area, were interviewed using an interview guide. The outcomes of the interviews are discussed. Out of these interviews, and the literature review, an understanding of church social work practice, roles, and models used arose. Analysis revealed that the role of social workers in church-related employment was defined by several factors, which in turn shaped job satisfaction and the types of models used in their ministry. Similarities were seen between all the church social workers interviewed and their desire to approach clients holistically. However, the environment and the vision of …